Career Day

For most writers, a conference is like a job fair. It can often make or break your writing career. Beyond the immediate benefits of learning crafting and style points, it can also lead to making the right contacts. Put your best foot forward, and maybe come away with a lead that leads to a lead that leads to a lead on a publishing contract.

That’s why, for many of us, when the opportunity arises, we try to attend one.

Last year when I was working, I started putting money aside, saving for a conference.

I really wanted to go to ACFW last fall, but I had a newborn, and with the travel expenses and everything else, I just couldn’t make it work. So I kept my stash safely stashed, waiting for the next best opportunity.

I happened to be talking to a writer friend, someone I met at a local conference a couple years ago, and she mentioned she was considering going to the San Diego University writer’s conference.

Long story short, we worked it out to go together. We leave tomorrow morning, driving to San Diego together.

All the details fell into place, in a way that only God could have orchestrated. For example, I had just the right amount saved to pay for the cost of the conference plus the three advanced reading appointments I was able to opt in, with a little left for travel expenses.

I was actually a little concerned about the travel expenses, though, because the cost of the hotel was pretty steep. My friend and I were going to share a room, so that would help, but it would have been nice to get one or two more roommates to share the cost.

But, as no one else we knew was planning to attend, we decided to make it work ourselves. As for traveling, we determined it would be more cost effective to drive from Phoenix to San Diego and split gas than fly and rent a car or take a taxi or shuttle.

We met one morning to iron out details, and in the process, decided to check on other accommodations, just to see if we could cut costs a little more. My cousin works for Marriott, so we called her to see if she could get a room at a nearby branch using her friends and family discount for us. The hotel where the conference was being held was advertising rates of $180/night, with an extra $10 for each additional person. So, for two nights, after taxes and whatnot else, we were each looking at over $200 in charges.

My cousin could get us a room at a nearby Marriott for $109 a night, or another one, a little distance further, for even less. At such a significant cost savings, we decided that despite that a lot of networking happens on-site and it’s a good idea to stay on location if possible, that it would be worth it to sleep elsewhere.

As this discussion progressed, I recalled that my husband’s aunt and uncle own a condo in San Diego. Long logistics short, we managed to arrange with them to use their condo for those two nights. It’s a “happy coincidence” and a “fortunate turn of events.” Except that clearly God knows what He’s doing, and is providing for me in this. It would have been a strain on my regular budget, over my conference stash, otherwise, and with this blessing my expenses will be just exactly what I had saved.

So tomorrow morning, right after I drop my kids off at school, I get to head out.

My prayer for this conference is that I would make some contacts and meet with the people I’m supposed to meet, the ones God knows will be most beneficial to my writing.

Thanks, everyone, for your continued support my writing, and if you’re inclined to pray, please pray for travel safety for my friend and me, for sanity for our husbands who are home with our kids, and for a good conference that helps propel my writing.

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